Park - Limeyards Calke Park, Ticknall, , walk South DE73 7LE This tranquil walk will take you TRAIL through a varied landscape of Walking grasslands, arable farmland and one of Europe's rarest habitats - GRADE wood pasture. Along the way you Moderate will take in the Ticknall Limeyards, which date back to the 15th DISTANCE century - recently managed to 3 miles (5km) allow calcareous grassland flora to thrive. TIME 2 hours OS MAP Terrain Landranger 128 This circular route has stepped and stone paths, kissing gates and stiles. The route takes you alongside Contact a main road for a short distance. Enquire at the property for more accessible routes. Dogs welcome but please keep on a lead as there are livestock in surroundings fields. Please place dog litter in bins 01332 863822 provided. [email protected] Things to see Facilities

nationaltrust.org.uk/walks Ponds and white- Deer Limeyards and spotted

clawed crayfish Calke has a mixed herd of deer, orchids Built by the Harpur Crew family in including red and fallow species. Although the area has now been the 18th century, Calke's ponds The deer park was established reclaimed by nature, hidden were originally used for fishing in 1988 to exclude them from the underneath are spoil heaps, and recreation. The estate is very Pleasure Grounds. Their antlers rock outcrops and limekilns. The proud to be home to the native are lost in March and April, with Limeyards were designated a White-clawed crayfish. In recent the regrowth soon after. Fawning Site of Special Scientific Interest, years, the species has been happens in June and rutting in with over 4,000 common spotted persecuted by the American- October. orchids reaching their peak here introduced Signal crayfish. Work from late June to early July. has recently been undertaken to Other lime-loving plants such as restore Calke's historic weirs and twayblade also thrive on the site. water quality, thereby improving the habitat for the White-clawed variety. Calke Park, Ticknall, Derby, DE73 7LE

Start/end

Start: Calke main overflow car park, grid ref: SK367226 End: main overflow car park, grid ref: SK367226 How to get there

By bike: National Cycle 1. Begin at the back of the main overflow car park and take the steps down to the ponds. Turn right Network traffic-free route and follow the deer-fencing to the top of the hill, passing through a wooden gate. 5 miles (8km) away. See Sustrans for details. 2. Veer left, exiting through the wooden gate and continue along the clearly defined footpath, through three fields, past White Leys. By bus: Service 69/A Derby- (passing close to 3. At the wall, follow the footpath along the hedge. Go over a stile and head past the woodland on Derby), alight Ticknall then 1.5 your right. This will take you into the Ticknall Limeyards. (2.5km) mile walk through park to house. Burton-on-Trent is 10 4. Continue along the wide gravel track which will take you through the limeyards. For a slight detour miles (16km) away. to take in the orchids, turn left down the gravel footpath and over the stile. Afterwards go back to the By car: 10 miles (16km) south main track and pass three cottages on your right. Carry on until you reach the main road. of Derby on A514 at Ticknall. M42/A42 exit 13 and A50 5. Turning left, pass under the arch. Carry on past the main entrance to Calke Park and take the next Derby South. footpath on the left, over the stile after the cottage.

6. Continue straight along the footpath passing over two stiles and past a pond on your left. After going through another stile, follow the footpath along the hedge line. Halfway down this field the footpath veers to the left, follow this heading.

7. Cross over a stile and follow the path down the field. Cross over the stile in the wall, follow this footpath back into the park and head downhill. nationaltrust.org.uk/walks

8. At the bottom of the hill, cross the main drive and head up towards the Fisherman's car park. Take the track off to the right to take you past the information board and on between the ponds.

9. Ascend the steps over the stile and carry on to the left. This will take you back up to the main overflow car park.